Recorder



y ,1937. HQv. CLIFTON v 2,079,957

RECORDER Filed April 19, 1933 9 Sheets-Sheet l HarryYC/zfian May 11,1937.

H. V. CLI FTON RECORDER Filed April 19, 1933 9 Sheets-Sheet 2 a wu cwho! V 51mm 1937. H. v. CLIFTON 2,079,957

RECORDER Filed April 19,, 1933 9 Sheets-Sheet :5

.Jl'hw'. M5 l mumu H. V. CLIFTON RECORDER May 11, 1937.

9Sheets-Sheet 4 .Filed April 19, 1933 .Hbrry 51 177022 May 11, 1937. H.v. CLIFTON RECORDER Filed April 19, 1953 9 Sheets-Sheet 5 a w 3 V r H aty/um;

H. v. CLIFTO'N RECORDER Filed April 19, 1933 9 Sheets-Sheet 7 May 11,1937. H. v. CLIFTON 2,0

' RECORDER Filed April 19, 1933 9 Shets-Sheet 8 May 11, 1937. H. v.CLIFTON RECORDER 9 Sheets-Sheet 9 Filed April 19, 1933 Ham-'7 [IZZY i027Patented May 11, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE RECORDER Harry V.Clifton, Erie, Pa. Application April 19, 1933, Serial No; 688,902

9 Claims. (01. 2354p This invention is directed to an improvement inrecorders for use in connection with gasoline or other fluid deliverypumps or devices, wherein provision is made for recording certain detailknowledge relative to the pump operation both for a selected period andfor each pump operation independently, the recorder being constructed asa complete unit wholly independent of the pump or other delivery unitexcept through a driving connection.

The primary object of the present invention is the provision of arecorder of this type which may be manually set for any given figure asa price per unit'measure of the pump delivery,

whether such figure involves the fractional part of a cent or not,whereupon after setting the total number of unit measures delivered fromthe pump in a particular operation, together with the total price ofsuch unit measures, it may be set up on the machine and automaticallyrecorded.

A further object of the invention is the provision of means by which anyfractional part of a cent or other unit indicating the cost of a unitmeasure of the pump is automatically added to the cost of the deliveredunit measures of the pump after registering the cost of such unitmeasures in whole cost units, thereby avoiding undue complicationincident to adding the fractional cost to each unit cost as the latteris registered.

A further object vision of means for automatically recording the set upof the machine following a particular pump delivery, with such recordingbeing in the form of bills, preferably in triplicate, which aresuccessively delivered beyond the machine, one of which will serve asthe customer's receipt and the others of which may serve for the stationrecord for checking purposes.

A further object of the invention is the provision of means by which theregister units will be automatically positioned for proper printingrelation, whether they may or may not be in such position following thepump operation, thereby ensuring a clear, positive record under allconditions of operation.

a further object of the invention is the provision of manuallycontrolled means by which the machine may be set for recording as to theparticular date and particular unit price per unit measure of the pump,and as to a particular fraction of such unit price, if such isnecessary, with mechanism operated in the actuation of the delivery pumpor unit for thereafter setting up in of the invention is the pro themachine a register denoting the number of unit measures delivered inthat pump operation and the total cost of such, either at a unit priceor at a price including a unit and a fraction, together with theindication on a totalizer of the total pump delivery for a particularperiod, the subsequent operation of the recorder in providing for theproper positioning of the register elements for printing purposes of therecording of the bills from such registers, the delivery of the billsbeyond the machine, and the restoration of the registering units otherthan the totalizer to a zero position for the nextoperation beingautomatically carried out under selective control of the operator.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a recorder whichmay be attached asa unit to any fluid delivery mechanism and which, whenmanually set for the cost price per unit measure of such deliverymechanism, whether said cost price includes a fraction or not, willauto-- matically register, among other details, the number of unitmeasures delivered in a particular operation of the fluid deliverymechanism and the total cost of such delivered measures calculated atthe cost price of each measure for which the machine has been set.

A further object of the invention is the provision in such a unit ofelectrically operated means selectively controlled for setting theregister into accurate printing position, for recording the set-up ofthe register, and for clearing the machine by restoring the registerunits to zero positions for the next operation.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:-

Figure 1 is a view in front elevation of the machine, the front wall ordoor of the casing being removed.

Figure 2 is a plan view of the machine, the casing and connected partsbeing shown in horizontal section.

Figure 3 is an end view of the machine.

Figure 4 is a section on the line 4-4 of Figure 2.

Figure 5 is a section on the line 5-5 of Figure 2.

Figure 6 is a section on the line 6-6 of Figure 5.

Figure 7 is a section on the line 1-1 of Figure 2.

Figure 8 is a section on the line H of Figure 2.

Figure 9 is a section on the line 89 of Figure 5.

Figure 10 is a broken plan view, partly in secticn, illustrating themeans for controlling the position of the rate gears during themanualsetting of the machine fora particular cost price.

Figure 17 is a section on the line I'I-I'I of Figure 14, looking in thedirection of the arrow.

Figure 18 is a section on the line I8IB of Figure 16.

Figure 19 is a section on the line I 9-I9 of Figure 14, looking in thedirection indicated by the arrow.

Figure 20 is a section on the line 20-20 of Figure 14.

Figure 21 is a section on the line 2I--2I of Figure 14.

Figure 22 is a detail in elevation, partly in section, illustrating themeans for manually and automatically controlling the position of thecash and accoun indicators for proper recording of the character of theparticular transaction.

Figure 23 is a section on the line 23-23 of Figure 22.

Figure 24 is a section on the line 24-24 of Figure 19.

Figure 25 is a longitudinal section through the manual rate setting andmanual date setting elements.

Figure 26 is a broken view in elevation showing the clutches and clutchcontrols.

Figure 2'lis a section on the line 21-21 of Figure 3.

Figure 28 is a view in elevation, partly in sec-' View to permitting,through proper manual and subsequent automatic control and operation,the delivery from therecorder following any predeterminedoperation ofthe liquid delivery unit a series, preferably three, of identical bills.These bills are to present'detailed information of the particular liquiddelivery mechanism operation as, for example, in the case of'a gasolinepump, the number of gallons delivered at the particular operation, thecost per gallon, the total cost of the gallonsdeliverjed, the date onwhich the delivery was made, whether the transaction was a,

cash transaction or one charged to an account, and additionally forthebenefit of the owners of the gasoline pump,the total number of gallonsdelivered from that pump during a selected 'period. Y a

The recorder presents means for manual adjustment for settingtherecorder at anypredetermined cost price per unit measure of the fluiddelivery gmechanism within the range of cost prices forwhichthgeiparticular recorder may be adapted," this'cost price"adjustment permitting and providing for'provisio'n of fractional partsof a unit of cost to be included in and computed by the recorder in thetotal cost at one operation.

The recorder as such is wholly independent from the liquid deliverymechanism and merely requires that it be connected to such mechanism toensure responsive and synchronous operation of the recorder in theoperation of an element of the liquid delivery mechanism during liquiddelivery. Of course, under these circumstances the driving part of theliquid delivery mechanism intended to serve as the power means for therecorder will determine the type of connection between the recorder andsuch means in order that a proper cooperation between the recorder andliquid delivery mechanism may be maintained. This may involve operatingthe recorder at the same speed at which the selected part' of the pumpdelivery mechanism is operated or at variable speeds relative thereto,and any and all conventional means to secure proper operative relationof the recorder and liquid delivery mechanism is contemplated as withinthe scope of the present invention.

The construction involves a frame or casing, indicated at I,.withinwhich are arranged partitions of requisite size and in appropriaterelation to provide for proper support of the operating parts, suchpartitions, for the purpose of this description, being indicated at 2,3, 4, 5 and B. The walls of the casing proper and the partitionsreferred to constitute in effect a more or less rigid frame designedprimarily for the support of the various operating instrumentalitlesmaking up "corder may be flexible or otherwise and may be terminallyprovided with any appropriate means to ensure that said shaft 1 will beproperly operated in the operation of the liquid delivery mechanism. Theinvention is not concerned with the connection between the power shaftand the liquid delivery mechanism and such will not be shown ordescribed, it being understood, however, that any necessary andconventional coupling arrangement to secure the appropriate operation ofthe shaft I may be provided.

The shaft 1 extends within the recorder casing and may, if desired, berotatably mounted in a block 8 secured to the partition 4. The inner orrecorder end of the shaft I is provided with a beveled gear 9. Carriedas an integral or fixed part of the beveled gear 9 is a smallerconcentric beveled gear II) which, together with the gear 9, constitutethe driving gears of the recorder. The shaft II isrotatably supported inthe partitions 4' and 6, passing through partition 5. This shaftrotatably supports between partitions Sand 6 the computing mechanism forindicating the total cost price of the commodity delivered at aparticular operation. This mechanism is made up 7 of type wheels,indicated at I2, I3, I4 and I5, and

-inafter referred to as the quantity .computing unit. of course, thesemechanisms may include any number of type wheels, and while it isunderstood that the respective wheels, are loose on the shaft II, it isnevertheless to be also understood that the shaft itself is capable ofmovement for resetting or machine clearing pu poses, as will laterappear.

As the type wheels of both the quantity and cost computing units, 1. e.the first or initial wheel of each computing mechanism is designed to bedriven by a gear, indicated at 20, for the cost unit and at 2| for thequantity unit, and as these gears form parts of gear trains to be laterdescribed, and therefore are fixed when the gear train is at rest,provision must be made for permitting a true driving connection betweenthe gear and the first type wheel, while at the same time permittingslight movement of the type wheel relative to its gear in order tocompensate for type wheel movement. It will be understood that in theoperation of the type wheels, the initial wheel may, when the particulardelivery of fluid from the delivery mechanism has ceased, be in aposition in which one of the numbers on that wheel is not in accurateprinting position. Provision is made herein, as will later appear, formechanism by which this wheel or these wheels may be moved to accuratelyposition the appropriate number thereon in printing position. Thisadjusting mechanism advances the printing wheel to printing position ormoves it backwardly to printing position, according as to which of themovements necessitates lost move-, ment of the wheel to properlyposition the numeral, 1. e. if the wheel has been moved to a point morethan half the distance between the respective numerals, the adjustingmechanism will ad-' vance the wheel, whereas if it has moved less thanhalf the distance, the adjusting mechanism will retard or move the wheelbackward. Therefore, to permit proper and relative movement of theinitial tabulating wheels in either direction while the gear whichordinarily imparts movement to these wheels is fixed, provision must bemade for relative play between the driving gear and the initial wheel ofthe respective computing mechanisms. As the connection is the same inboth instances, i. e. for both the cost and quantity computing units, asingle description will cover both structures.

A hub 22 is loosely mounted upon the shaft II. and on this hub isrotatably mounted a driving gear, 20 or 2| as the case may be. Theinitial wheel of each computing mechanism, i. e. l2 or It as the casemay be, is formed on the side toward the driving gear with an annularextension 23 between which and the-particularportion of the type wheeland preferably on the reduced extension of such portion is secured amember having spaced, triangular teeth 24 forming an-elecient strengthhas one end secured to the gear 20 or 2|, as the case may be, and theopposite end secured to the pawl plate 21, this spring being coiledabout the hub intermediate the gear and pawl plate.

The details just described are shown more particularly in Figures 4 and11, and from this construction it will be apparent that during drivingactuation of the particular gear, 20 or 2| as the case may be, the pawlplate driven by the spring 3| will, through the pawl 28,correspondingly. operate the particular type wheel, I2 or [6 as the casemay be, and yet the particular type wheel may be moved independently inthe advance direction as the pawl 28 will readily ride over the teeth 26and at the same time the particular type wheel will be permitted aslight movement in the opposite direction owing to the yielding ofspring 3| Each succeeding type wheel of both the cost and quantitycomputing units is advanced one step at each complete revolution of thepreceding wheel, as is customary in units of this type. However, for thepurposes of the invention, and for reasons which will later appear, itis found desirable to provide a particular type of transfer mechanismbetween the successive type wheels of each mechanism, and this detail isillustrated more particularly in Figures 6 and 14.

The transfer wheels 32 are mounted loosely on a-shaft 33.- Eachadditional type wheel has secured thereto a laterally disposed gear 24corresponding in all respects to the gear 25 of the initial type wheelbut lacking, of course, any internal pawl and ratchet mechanism, as inthese in stances the gears 34 are merely for stepping up the particulartype wheel to which they are attached. The transfer shaft is mounted formovement in a manner which will later appear for bodily moving thetransfer wheels from cooperation with the type wheels to a positionbeyond such cooperation, in order to provide particularly for resettingthe type wheelsor clearing the machine. The transfer wheels areidentical and a description of one will be suflicient.

Each transfer wheel is provided with altemate with the teeth of thewheels 34. Each printing a or type wheel on the side opposite itsdriving gear is formed with a laterally projecting collar 31. Ontheouter surface of this collar, near the peripheral edge thereof, is aprojection 28 having a recess '29 formed between teeth 40. The recess 39between the teeth is intended to cooperate with one of the long teeth 36on thetransfer' wheel (Figure 14). when the collar 21 engages the spaceor dedendum provided by short teeth 36 between the long teeth 36, thetransfer gear is locked, but when the projection 38 engages thealternate long teeth 26, the transfergear is advanced one tooth. Theteeth 40 of the projection 38 neverengage a shorttooth. Thisconstruction is well known in transfer gear construction, and furtherdescription is, therefore, unnecessary. However, it will be understoodthat as each type wheel makes a complete revolution, and during thefinal step thereof, the next succeeding wheel is moved a single step toadvance the same the space of one numeral. 7

As previously stated,-the transfer shaft 32 is bodily movable at rightangles to the axis of the tabulating wheels in order that the transferwheels may be bodily disconnected from the type wheels when necessary toreset such type wheels for clearing the machine. As it is important thatthe resetting wheels maintain the same relation to their tabulatingwheels, means are provided to lock the transfer wheels against movementwhen moved to free the type wheels to ensure that on their return intocooperation with the type wheels, proper gearing cooperations willensue.

For this purpose, there is arranged below the type wheels a strip 4|having a tooth channel 42 to accurately receive a tooth of a transferwheel. The relation of the strip and the type wheels is such that in themovement of the shaft 33 to disconnect the transfer wheels from the typewheels, a tooth of the transfer wheels will ride into the tooth channel42 and two such teeth are wholly disconnected from the gear 34 of thetype wheels, the depth of the tooth channel, however, permittingcontinued bodily movement of the transfer wheels to wholly disconnectsuch wheels and gears 34. Thus the transfer wheels are maintained intheir proper relation even when free of the type wheels, and whenrestored into cooperation with such type wheels will again ensure propercooperation, as will be evident.

Mounted in longitudinal alignment with the shaft H and supported inpartitions 3 and 4 is a shaft 43. On this shaft is loosely mounted. anumber wheel-44, the numbers of which indicate fractional amounts of aunit cost and which wheel 44 is provided with an offset fixed gear 45.On the same shaft and immediatelyadjacent, though free of the fractionalnumber wheel 44, is a number wheel 46, the numbers on which indicate theunit cost of unit measures of the liquid being dispensed, this numberwheel 46, hereinafter termed the unit cost indicating or type wheel,being provided with a gear 41. Also freely rotatable on the shaft 43 aredate wheels 48 and 49, the former being peripherally marked to indicatethe months and the latter peripherally marked to indicate the days ofthe month. The wheel 48 has a fixed gear 50, while the wheel 49 has afixed gear 5|. On a shaft 52 in alignment with shaft 43 or forming acontinuation thereof are arranged a series of type wheels 53 formingatotalizer.

The transfer mechanism between the wheels may be of any conventionaltype but is preferably similar to that described, except that it isentirely internal and the transfer gears do not require to be unmeshed.The initial type wheel 55 of the totalizer is provided with a printingadjustment member having triangular teeth 56 corresponding to the memberand teeth 24 described in connection with the cost and quantitycomputing mechanisms. This initial type wheel 55 of the totalizer has alateral projection 51 adapted to be engaged by a correspondingprojecticn 58 on a driving gear 59, so that in movement of the gear inone direction, the initialwheel of the totalizer is appropriatelyoperated while such initial type wheel is relatively free i to be movedin the same direction. The purpose of the totalizer is, of course, toshown on each,

unitshowing the cost of such quantity, and a totalizer, all of whichunits are to be operated in the actuation of the machine. In addition tothe registration of these units, however, and for the" purpose ofprinting on the bills to be dispensed, there is included a dateindicator and a price indicator showingthe price per unit measurecharged for the material dispensed, this price indicator including asseparate elements a unit or full digit indicator and a fractionalindicator. Quite obviously, the date indicator and the unit measureprice indicator are to be manually set and to remain in this setposition for printing upon the bills to be delivered so that thecustomer may know the date of the operation and the cost price per unitmeasure of the material he has received.

It is, of course, apparent that the operation of the cost computing unitwill be varied according to the unit cost per unit measure of thecommodity, while the time period remains the same. Thus, if thecommodity is ten cents a gallon and ten gallons are dispensed, the costcomputing unit must show one dollar, whereas if the cost price isfifteen cents a gallon and ten gallons are dispensed, the cost computingunit must show one dollar and a half. The time period, however, ofdispensing ten gallons in each case is the same. Therefore, thevariation in the movement of the cost computing unit according to thesetting of the unit cost price must be provided for, and this is equallytrue of the fractional cost price. The mechanism by which these resultsare gained will now be described.

The means for the variable operation of the cost computing unit isthrough the use of a stepped gear 60 mounted in partitions 5 and 6 anddriven from the main gear 9 operated by a main gear train including oneof the gears 6| of a compound gear, the other gear 62 of which 'isdriven by a gear 63 on one side of the partition 5, the shaft of whichgear 63 has on the opposite side of the partition a gear 64 meshing witha gear 65 mounted in the partition 5 and provided at one end of a sleeve66, the opposite end of which carries a beveled pinion 6'! meshingdirectly with the drive gear 9. Motion is thus directly imparted to thestepped gear in the operation of the pump or other delivery mechanismand, of course, if the driving action for the cost computing unit isadjusted relative to the stepped gear, the rate of movement of the costcomputing unit will necessarily be varied, this variation beingproportioned according to the unit cost of a unit measure. A gear 68designed for cooperation with any one of the gears of the stepped gearis supported at the upper end of a lever 69 mounted for swingingmovement about a shaft I supported in partitions 4 and 6, being mountedin'a boss projecting laterally from the latter partition. The gearing 68is in constant mesh with a gear H which is keyed for free slidingmovement but otherwise fixed relative to the shaft 10.

The gear H is'mounted upon a boss 12 on which is rotatably supported andotherwise held against relative movement a U-frame 13, the arms of whichare slidable in apertures in partition 5. Strictly speaking, lever 69 ismounted on a boss on U-frame 13. Fixed in the frame and extendinglongitudinally thereof is a worm rack 14 which extends through anopening in the partition so as to permit free longitudinal movement ofthe rack to prevent its turning. Supported in partition 5 and in abearing boss extending from the partition 4 is a shaft .15 on which issecured a worm gear 16 maintained in mesh with the rack 14. The oppositeend of the shaft is provided with a pinion 11 through whichmanual-movement is imparted to the worm 16 in a manner to be laterdescribed. 7 The mechanism just described is a manually adjustable meansfor varying the operation of the cost computing unit where the cost of aunit measure of the commodity being delivered is expressed in wholenumbers. .The recorder, however, is designed to provide also forvariable fractional costs, and as a variation in fractional cost wouldalso require a variation in cost computing mechanism control, provisionmust be made for setting the machine for such particular fractionalcost. A stepped gear 18 is mounted upon a shaft 18 in bearing bosses onpartitions 4 and 5, and this stepped gear is driven by a gear 88 fixedin a shaft 8| mounted in bearings in partitions 3 and 4 and provided atone end with a beveled pinion 82 which meshes directly witha drivepinion I8 of the driving element, and constitutes a part of thesecondary gear train for driving the fractional cost computingmechanism.

As in the whole number rate, the variation in the fractional rate issecured by varying the rotation of the elements acting on the cost,computing unit, and to this end the stepped gear I8 serves as avariable drive. A gear 83 to be driven by the selected gear of thestepped gear 18 is supported upon a lever 84 mounted for swingingmovement about a bushing 85 keyed for sliding movement only on the shaft88, one end of the bushing being formed or provided with a gear 81 inconstant mesh with the gear 83. Guided for sliding movement in partition4 are the arms 88 of a U-frame, the end of which is mounted for freerotary movement on but held against endwise movement relative to thebushing 85.

Fixed with respect to the frame 88 and freely slidable relative to theshaft 88 is a worm rack 88. That is to say, the bushing 85 is heldagainst endwise movement only with relation to the U- frame. The wormrack and thereby the gears 88 and 81 are moved longitudinally of thestepped gear 18 through the medium of a worm 98 fixed upon the shaft 8|mounted in brackets 3 and 4 having a terminal gear 82 beyond bracket 3by which the worm is selectively driven, as will later appear. The meansby which the driven gears 88 and 83 may be adjusted to cooperate withany selected gear face of the respective stepped gears will now bedescribed. This operation is in two stages, both manually controlled,and including first a means for shifting the respective driven gears outof the path of possible engagement with any gear of the stepped gears,and then adjusting these driven gears longitudinally of the stepped gearto cause cooperation with each driven gear and that particularlyselected stepped gear as will insure a proper operation of the costcomputing mechanism.

First, as to shifting the driven gears out of the operative plane of thestepped gear, it has been stated that the respective gears 88 and 88 aresupported on levers 88 and 84 respectively, and as these levers swing ina plane at right angles to the axis of the stepped gear, it is obviousthat if the leversare moved, the driven gears 88 and 88 will be movedout of cooperation with the stepped gear. The means to accomplish thisresult is shown more particularly in Figures 5 and and includes blocks88 and 84 slidably mounted on guides 88 and arranged on opposite sidesof the partition 5. The lever 88 is pivotally supported at 81 andconnected through pin and slot connections 88 with the respective blocksso that movement of one will compel movement of the other. A'flngerpiece 88 projecting through the casing is connected to one of theblocks, as 83, and the block 83 is spring-pressed in one direction by aspring I88 for resilient positioning of the lever-carried gear incooperation with the stepped gears. Each block 83 and 84 is formed witha channel I8I' and i8t respectively, and in these channels rollers i8.icarried on the lower ends of the levers 84 and 88 are respectivelymounted.

As in the arrangement disclosed, the driven gears 88 and 83 cooperatewith the respective stepped gears on opposite sides. The lever 88compels opposite movement from the blocks 83 and 84 and the slots I82are arranged at an angle corresponding to the pitch line of the completestepped gear in each instance so that after the driven gears 88 and 83have been moved out of the plane of contact with the stepped gears andthe adjustment of said gears 88 and 88 axially of the stepped gears hasbeen carried out, the movement of the lever at the blockconnected endwill follow a line determined by the pitch plane of the stepped gear asa whole and thereby act in any one correlation of the driven gear andstepped gear to prevent a binding gear cooperation, the gear cooperationbeing further yielding under the iniluence of the spring Having thuspositioned the respective driven gears beyond possibility of contactwith the stepped gear until the finger piece 88 is released,

it is necessary, while holding the driven gears in this relation, toadjust them if both adjustments are necessary longitudinally oi theircooperating stepped gears to set the-rote. This adjust ment is carriedout manually in the following manner. Beyond one end of the framecasing, as it i, and supported therein are a series of concentric shaftsM5, M8, IM and I88, the latter being the outermost shaft. Secured to therespective shafts beyond the end I 83 of the casing are indicatingmembers to determine the various manual adjustments. For example, thereis a hollow, annular element I88 secured to the outermost shaft I88 by akey 8, a similar element III secured to the shaft I81 by a key H2, athird similar element 3 secured to the shaft I 88- by a key H4, and ahandle-like element 5 secured to the innermost shaft I85 by a key 8.

The elements I88, Ill and H3 have their peripheral indicating surfacesII! in alignment longitudinally of the axis, while the indicatingsurface I I8 of the element 5 is inclined with the indicating surface Inof the element III' will bear the numbers corresponding to the days ofthe month, the indicating surface ll! of the element H3 will bear on itssurface the whole numbers corresponding to the rate per unit cost of thecommodity being delivered, while the indicating surface I I8 of theelements II5 bears successively indicating numerals progressivelyincreasing by tenths. It is preferred, of course, that this indicatingmechanism be enclosed, with the enclosure provided with openings H8serving-to indicate the proper adjustment by exposure of thepredetermined element through the openings in each instance.

Secured upon the inner end of the shaft III: is a gear I28 whichcooperates directly with gear 58 connected to the type wheel bearing thenames of the months. Therefore, by adjustment of the element I09 untilthe proper month appears in the opening II 9, the type wheel 48 will becorrespondingly adjusted to set the proper month type in printingposition. The shaft I01 carries within the casing a terminal gear I2Iwhich meshes directly with gear 5| carried by the. type wheel bearingthe days of the month, and under proper adjustment of the element IIIthis typebearing wheel 49 may vbe set to arrange in I printing positionthe proper day of the month.

H3, the shaft 15 carrying the worm I5 is rotated, and through thecooperation of the worm 16 with the worm rack 14, the gear 68 which has,by the means previously described, been held out of possible contactwith the stepped gear, is

moved longitudinally of the stepped gear to a @osition determined by theadjustment of the element II3. If the rate per unit measure of thecommodity'being dispensed is a whole number, the release of the fingerpiece 99 permits the rear 58 to move into cooperation with the gearelement of the stepped gear with which it has been aligned through theadjustment of the element II3 as described so that the ratio between theselected element of the stepped gear and the driven gear 66 will, in amanner to be later described, operate the units of the cost computingmechanism at proper speed to measure up the cost of the unit measuresdispensed at the rate to which the adjusting element II3 has been set.

Secured upon the inner end of shaft I05 is a ear I2'I meshing with thesmaller gear I of pound gears I29 supported for free rotation inpartition 4, the larger gear I 28 of which meshes with the gear 92mounted on shaft 9| carrying worm 90. Thus element H5 is adjusted toshow a fractional cost rate, the worm controlling the position of thegear 83 with relation to the stepped gear I8 being adjusted so that whenthe finger piece 99 is released, thisgear 83 will be set for operatingon the cost tabulating wheels to add thereto an amount equaling thenumber of unit measures dispensed, multiplied by the fractional rate forwhich the element II 5 is set. The whole number rate controlled by thestepped gear 60 will.be set up on the cost type wheels in the followingmanner:-

The shaft I0 is provided with a fixed gear I32 which, as said shaft I0is driven through the operation of the stepped gear, gear 68 and II, isalso driven. Gear I32 cooperates with a gear I33 idly supported frompartition 6, the movement of which through successively meshing and idlysupported gears I34 and I35 communicate movement to gear 20 of the costcomputing mechanism so that this mechanism is driven directly at a ratecontrolled by the relative ratio of the selected gear of the steppedgear 60 and gear 68. As the stepped gear 60 is driven at constant speed,the gears for operating such stepped gear are utilized as the drivingmeans for the quantity computing mechanism, in that gear 64 forming partof the train for driving the stepped gear is utilized to drive a gearI36 idly supported on partition 5 and directly meshing "5 with drivinggear 2i of the quantity computing unit. Thus, the cost computing unitand quantity computing unit are driven, the driving of the quantitycomputing unit being, of course, constant, as it merely indicates theparticular number of units dispensed at a particular operation, whilethe driving of the cost computing unit is variable according to the rateper unit measure of the commodity being dispensed, all of which will beclear from the above description.

If and when a fractional rate is necessary, it is quite apparent thatthe fractional rate must be considered by itself and cannot be utilizedas a means for additionally driving the cost computing mechanism at thesame time as such cost computing mechanism is driven by the whole numberrate. Provision is made, therefore, for setting up and energizing meansfor the fractional cost computing mechanism under a tension determinedby the fractional rate for which the machine is set, and then after thecost computing mechanism has been set according to the whole numberrate, this cost computing mechanism is released to the influence of thestored up energy of the fractional computing mechanism so that thisenergy is utilized to move the cost computing mechanism to a furtherextent determined by the fractional rate. In providing for the storingup of this energy for the automatic setting of the fractional rate onthe cost computing mechanism, shaft 86 is extended beyond the partition5 and provided with a gear -I3'I meshing with the larger gear I38 of acompound gear idly supported in partition 5. The smaller gear I39 ofthis compound gear meshes with a gear I40 fixed upon a shaft I mountedin partitions 5 and 6. Mounted on shaft I are cooperating clutch unitsI42 and I43. The proximate faces of these units are formed with clutchteeth I44 and the unit I42 is keyed for sliding movement on butotherwise fixed with respect to the shaft I, as indicated The clutchunit 143 includes a 'drum I46, a

gear I41, and a further and smaller gear I485 drum one end of a springI49, the spring being coiled about the drum and having an end I 50 fixedto the frame or casing. As the drum is rotated in one direction, thecoils of the spring will be tightened and the drum, when released, willoperate under the tension of these spring coils for movement in theopposite direction.

To ensure that the drum will not move past a predetermined or zero pointon its return, a fixed stop I5I is provided, with which a movable stop I52 on disk I53 cooperates. The cooperation of these stops indicates thezero position of the drum, and when the drum has been moved to tensionthe spring, the movable stop moves away from the fixed stop and when thedrum is released it will return under the tension of the spring untilthe stops again cooperate. Thus notwithstanding the tension of thespring, the drum is permitted to move under such tension Lil only to azero position. -In the example shown in the gear ratio between the gearMd and the gear H4 is such that drum- I43 can rotate approximately SZA;times while the disk I53 is making one revolution. Thus, the drum l43can move sufficiently to store up energy to take care of the fractionalcost for approximately one hundred gallons of gasoline dispensed. Bychanging the gear ratio above set forth, it will be possible toaccommodate additional fractional units to enable the device to operateon a great r quantity dispensed at any one operation. In practice,however, it is entirely feasible to operate the pump on the presentbasis in successive increments of one hundred gallons. Therefore if morethan this quantity is desired in a particular dispensing operation, itwould only be necessary to operate the apparatus two or more times.

The stop |5I is carried by the partition 5, while the movable stop I52is on a-disk I53 having gear connection through compound gear I54 withgear I48 on the drum I43. The gearing relation is such that the drum I43may be tensioned to desired extent in the operative direction, but when.released under the tensioning means for setting the fractional rate intothe cost tabulator, such drum can only move to the zero positiondetermined by the cooperation of the stops ibi and I 52. Of course, thedrum is free of the shaft Mi. and as the clutch unit i ti is keyed tothe shaft, it is quite apparent that when the clutch units are incooperation, the drum may be rotated in a direction to tension thespring, but that so long as the clutch units remain in cooperation, thedrum cannot move in the opposite direction to transmit its stored powerto the cost computing unit.

The clutch element I42 is formed in part as a bushing I55. which isdirectly keyed to the shaft Hi and rotatably supported in an arm I56.The arm then serves as a movable element through mechanism to be laterdescribed, by.

which the clutch unit I42 may be moved into cooperation with the clutchunit I43 or moved from such clutch cooperation. When the clutch unitsI42 and. I43 are in cooperation, the clutch unit I43 is in effectmovable with the shaft I4I, whereas when the clutch unit I42 has beenmoved by operation of the arm I56 to disengage it from the clutchelement I43, then the latter clutch element I43 is wholly free ofconnection with the shaft Ill and is capable of independent rota= tionthereon.

Supported upon the shaft I51 mounted in partitions 5 and 6 and parallelwith shaft I is a clutch element I58 rdtatably supported on the shaftand in an arm I59 by which the clutch element may be movedlongitudinally of the shaft for clutching and declutching cooperation.

The clutch element I58 carries a gear I 60 which meshes with the gearI41 of the clutch element I48. A clutch element I6I mounted for freerotation on shaft I51 and designed for tooth cooperation with clutchelement I58 is provided with a gear I82 which meshes at all times withgear 25 of the initial wheel of the cost tabulating mechanism.

It is, of course, to be'understood that unless the pinion 83 is in gearcooperation with one of the gears of the stepped gear I8. no movementwill be imparted to the shaft 86 and, therefore, the drum I43 will notbe tensioned. for normaliy, i. e. in the absence of any adjustment ofthe member I I5, the gear 83 is free of any of the gears of the steppedgear I8. Therefore, until it is desired to add a fractional cost, theparts described in connection with this cost are without function, underwhich circumstances, of course, the cost computing mechanism indicatesthe cost per unit measure of the commodity in whole numbers controlledby the stepped gear 60 and the pinion 68, as previously described.

If, however, the cost price includes a fraction, and the member H5 hasbeen set to indicate this fraction, the pinion 83 will be positioned incooperation with the proper gear section of the stepped gear I8 and thedrum I43 will be tensioned to the desired extent. After tensioning,however, the gear I43 will be held in this tensioned relation because itforms part of a clutch and is in clutch cooperation with companionclutch member I42 which is not rotatable with respect to the shaft.

It has been stated that clutch I42 is controlled by arm I56 and thatclutch element I58 of the other clutch is controlledby arm I59. Thesearms I56 and I58 are fixed upon a shaft I63 supported for freelongitudinal movement in partitions S'and 6, the arms I56 and I59 beingso connected to the shaft that the two sets of clutch elements arealways in relatively opposite rela-. tion, 1. e. when the clutchelements I42 and M3 are in clutching cooperation, the clutch elements Mdand IilI are free, and when clutch elements it and IE5] are in clutchingcooperation, clutch elements M2 and Mt are free. Shaft M113 isinfluenced in one direction by a spring I h t which tends to normallymaintain the shaftand arms I55 and I 59 in such position as to maintainthe clutch elementa Hit. and Hit in clutching cooperation and the clutchelements itltt and Hit in declutched relation. The opposite condition isautomatically In practice, the teeth on the clutch faces are very A fineand only a space of from .0007 to .0001 of an inch is provided.

Fromthe above description. it will be apparent that the mechanism so faremployed responds,

after manual adjustment, to the action of the fluid dispensing unit withwhich the recorder is attached as, for example, a gasoline pump. Themanual adjustments reside in operation of the push button 99 to move-thegears 68 and 63 beyond the respective stepped gears 68 and I8. Themembers H3 and H5 are adjusted to establish the rate per unit measure ofthe commodity di pensed at which the machine will be operated. Ofcourse, if this rate is a. who e number, only adjustment of the memberH3 is necessarv.

whereas if there is a fractional part involved in the cost rate, themember I I5 will also be adjusted to set this fractional part forsubsequent machine operations. v

It is, of course, assumed that the members I09 and I II have beenadjusted at the start of the day's business to set the date, and it isfurther apparent from the description that the adjus ment of the membersH3 and I I5 set u the rate on the respective printing dials 46 and 44.Of course, the setting up of the whole number pr ce and fractional partprice. if the latter is required. positlons the gears 58 and 83 inproper alignment with the selected gear element of the respectivestepped gears 68 and 18, and upon release of the finger piece 99, thegears 58 and 83 are brought into cooperation with the proper gearsection of the respective stepped gears. The gasoline pump or otherdispensing unit is then operated to dispense the required number of unitmeasures. During this operation of the pump or other dispenser, thetotalizer tabulating mechanism is operated in a step by step movement toadd the number of units dispensed to the previously indicated total inthis unit, the quantity computing mechanism is operated to indicate thenumber of units deliveredby the pump in the particular operation beingeffected, and the cost of this number of units is indicated on the costcomputing mechanism through the gearing previously indicated.Simultaneously with this operation, if the cost per unit includes afraction, the drum I44 has been rotated through the driving of shaft HIand cooperating clutch element I42 which is at this time in clutchingcooperation with the clutch I43, of which drum I44 forms a part. Thisrotation of drum I44 tensions spring I49 and tensions this spring, ofcourse, in direct proportion to the fractional rate, the higher thefractional rate, the higher the tension of the spring. The fractionalrate is thus stored up in the machine because as long as the clutchelements I42 and I43 remain in cooperation, the drum I43 is not free tobe rotated under the influence of the spring I49, as is necessary to addthe fractional rate to the whole number cost rate.

From this it will be understood that the whole number cost is directlyindicated on the cost computing mechanism as the pump or dispensing unitis operated, but that the fractional rate is during this operationstored up as a source of energy which will be independently added to thecost tabulating mechanism after the completion of the whole number rateon that mechanism, 1. e. after the dispensing unit or pump has ceased tooperate. Following this operation of the machine, there is an automaticoperation wholly independent of the pump or other dispensing unit, thisautomatic operation being inaugurated by a manual movement of a pushbutton and serving to first provide for the automatic operation of thecost tabulating mechanism through thestored up energy mechanism of thefractional rate, if such fractional rate has been employed; then thetype wheels of the computing mechanism controlled by the dispensing unitor pump are moved so that the numbers expressed thereon are in properprinting position; then the bills, of which three are employed in thepresent machine, are successively printed and moved into a positionbeyond the casing, from which they may be detached; then the means forplacing the typewheels in printing position are moved out ofcooperativecontrol of such tabulating wheels; then the transfer gears between thetype wheels of the respective tabulating mechanisms are moved out ofmeshing cooperation with such type wheels; the release of the typewheels from cooperation with the mechanism for setting them in printingposition and the removal of the transfer wheels from meshing cooperationwith the tabulating wheels being accomplished during the movement of thethird bill beyond the casing and being completed before the third billreaches such position; then mechanism is inaugurated to return all typewheels to a-zero position for clear ing the machine; then the transferwheels are returned into meshing cooperation with the type wheels; andfinally the manually operable key or button by which this automaticoperation has been inaugurated is returned to normal position which, ofcourse, restores the fractional rate mechanism operated by the pump to aposition for again storing up fractional rate energy in a succeedingoperation of the pump.

This automatic mechanism will now be described. Supported upon one endwall of the easing is a motor I65, the shaft I65 of which operatesthrough a worm drive I61 to drive the shaft I 68 supported inappropriate bearings on the end wall of the casing. A worm IE9 ismounted in the shaft and cooperates with a worm gear I18 mounted forfree rotation on a shaft "I. A

disk I12 is fixed to the shaft HI, and a spring I13 is terminallysecured to the worm gear I10 and the disk I12. This spring is ofsuillcient strength to form a driving medium between the worm gear anddisk when the spring is in normal relation, i. e. not under tension.

Mounted for swinging movement in the end wall of the casing is astarting arm I14, the upper free end of which has a lateral projectionI15 designed to fit in a recess I15 in the edge of the disk I12. The armI14 is provided with a switch I11 which, when the arm is pressed torelease the disk, closes the motor circuit, indicated generally at I18;The arm I14 is provided with a finger enlargement I19, and it is evidentthat when this arm is operated, the projection I15 is moved fromcooperation with the notch I16 and closes the 7 motor circuit at thesame time. The motor then operates to effect the mechanism and when thedisk has been moved one revolution, the arm extension I15 will move backinto the notch I16 and so interrupt disk movement and at the same timestop the automatic operation. This return movement of the arm is underthe influence of spring I84 previously referred to and which will beagain referred to in this connection.

The projection I15 is preferably provided with a ball I88 which providesan anti-friction bearing between the projection and the inner side ofthe disk during the rotation of the disk. Of course, as the arm returnsto locking cooperation with the disk, the motor circuit is interruptedbut the momentum of the motor will tend to a slight continued rotationof the worm'gear I18. This independent rotation of the worm gear I18 ispermitted by the spring I13, and thus when the motor finally comes torest, spring I13 is under some tension. Therefore, whenthe arm I14 hasbeen initially operated to start the mechanism,- the movement of theprojection I15 out of the recess I18 releases the disk I12 to thetensioned spring I13 so that practically before the motor starts tooperate, the disk I13 will be moved by the spring to carry the recessI16 out of alignment withthe projection I15 to thus prevent thepossibility of the arm, if immediately released,returning to lock thedisk against movement.

Underlying the arm I14 is a pin I8I mounted for free sliding movement inthe end wall of the casing. The inner end of the pin is connected to alever I 82 pivotally supported on the end wall of the casing at I83, theupper end of the lever being connected to the shaft I63 for moving theclutch arms I56 and I59 controlling the introduction of the energy ofthe fractional rate cost into the cost tabulating mechanism. Therefore,

assuming the fractional rate to be in use and the drum I44 energized formovement by the spring I49, it will be apparent that on initial movementof the arm I14, this drum I44 is released from cooperation with itscompanion clutch element I42 by movement of the arm I56 toward the rightin Figure 26, while at the same time the clutch element I58 is movedinto cooperation with the clutch element IBI by corresponding movementof the arm I59. The drum is thus free to be moved under the influence ofthe tensioned spring I49, and as the gear I41 of this drum is in drivincooperation withthe gear I60 of the clutch element I58, and as thisclutch element IBI and the gear I62 of this element I6I are incooperation with the driving element 25 of the initial type wheel, it isapparent that the spring will operate the drum I44, the clutch elementsI58 and IBI, and the gear I62 and so move the initial type wheel of thecost computingmechanism and, if necessary, the additional type wheelsthrough the transfer wheels or gears to the extent permitted by thetension of this spring I49 previously set according to the fractionalrate selected.

As the drum cannot move under the influence of the spring beyond itsnormal or set position owing to the cooperation of the stops I5I and I52previously described, it is apparent that the exact fractional rateenergy is transferred to the cost computing mechanism and added to thealready set whole rate operation of that cost computing mechanism, thusfinally indicating on this cost computing mechanism the total cost ofthe number of unit measures delivered by the pump at the rate for whichthe recorder has been previously set, including the whole rate andfractional rate. The drum I44 has been restored to normal position, i.e. to the position limited by the stops -I5I and I52, and is ready toadd in the fractional rate at the next operation of the drum. Therespective clutch elements which have been operated by the movement ofthe shaft I63 under the pin I 9| will be held in this position duringthe rotation of the disk I12, the arm I14 being under return influenceby the spring I64 so that when the disk has completed one revolution,spring I 64 restores the various clutch elements of the fractional rateset up to normal position and at the same time moves the projection I15into the recess I16 to lock the disk I12.

During rotation of the disk I12, however, a number of additionaloperations are carried out, but it is understood that the addition ofthe setup fractional rate energy has been added to the cost ratecomputing mechanism immediately following initial operation of the armI14 and as the first step in the automatic operation. The next step inthe automatic operation is to ad: vance the type wheels which aredirectly controlled by the operation of the pumpto a printing position.It will, of course, be understood that in order for proper printing, thenumbers on the type wheels to be printed must be aligned, and it will befurther apparent that in the operation of the pump, particularly where afractional rate is employed or a part of a unit measure is delivered bythe pump, the numbers of the type wheels may be left in a position inwhich such numbers are out of line with a printing line position. Underthese circumstances, the numbers would not be printed on a. bill, andhence it is necessary to first align these type wheels so that theproper number will be in printing line. As previously stated, theinitial type wheels of the computing mechanism directly controlled bythe pump are provided with toothed wheels 24 and the proper aligning ofthe numbers on the type wheels is secured through the cooperation of thepawls and these toothed wheels 24.

Mounted to rotate between the end of the casing and the partition 8 iswhat may be termed a drive unit I84. This unit includes a gear I meshingwith a gear I86 integral with the cam: I81 mounted on shaft I88 which ismounted in partitions 2 and 6 and extends through partitions 3, 4 and 5and supported freely on; a boss I89 is an angle arm I90, the free end ofwhich is pro-- vided with a roller I9I bearing against the cam I81. Atthe opposite end of the arm is an elongated opening I92 in which: isseated a.- roller I93 on the end of a block I95 carrying a: shaft I94,which shaft extends through partitions 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 extendingthrough elongated openings in said partitions. The shaft I94 is mountedat its respective ends in slide blocks I95 guided in ways I96 on therespective partitions 2 and 8, it being understood that the cam I81,angle arm I and cooperating parts are duplicated on partition 2.

puting mechanisms, and as the shaft I94 is moved upwardly under theoperation of the arm I90 and the cam I81, the pawls enter betweentheimmediately overlying triangular teeth and move the teeth and therebyalign the initial type wheel to such a position that the nearest numeralthereon will be arranged in printing line. If these type wheels arearranged so that the number next to be positioned has been moved by thepumping mechanism more than half way to such position, the triangularteeth of the elements 24 are such that they will be engaged by theinclines I98 of the pawls, with the result of advancing the type wheels.If, however, the number has not traveled at least half the distancetoward proper position, the incline I99 will engage the forward face ofthe rearward tooth and move the type wheel backwardly. In anycircumstances, the pawls will properly position the next appropriatenumber of the type wheels in printing position and these pawls willfurther serve to lock the type wheels against further movement duringthe printing operation to be later described.

If the type wheels are advanced in one direction, there is nointerference from the pawl 28 of the feeding gear 20, i. e. the typewheel may be moved in this direction without necessitating movement ofthe gear 20 which is, of course, locked by its cooperating drivinggears. Movement of the type wheel in the opposite direction, however,which would ordinarily be resisted by the pawl 28, is permitted to thelimited extent necessary by the spring 3|.

In connection with the printing operation, it is to be noted that thebills are printed from a. sheet of paper mounted upon a roll, andit isto be understood that this paper is originally printed for all necessarydata other than that to be printed thereon by the recorder. The roll ofpaper 200 has the shaft 20I therefor freely suspended in bearings onpartition 6 on the opposite end of the casing. The paper from the rollpasses over a guide roller 202 and depends in front of the typflwheels.Below the type wheels the paper passes between two rollers 203 and 204,referred to as the delivery rollers and preferably having rubber. orother ribbed surfaces to insure gripping cooperation with the paper. Theroller 203 is mounted in slide bearings 205 and roller 204 is suspendedon bearings 206. The paper is delivered by the feeding pressure of therollers 203 and 204 through a slot 201 in the bottom of the casing.

Ribbon-carrying rollers 208 are mounted on adjustable pins 209 and 2I0sliding in projections 2H and H2. A ribbon H3 is connected to and woundupon the respective rolls, the ribbon passing over guide rollers 2l4located above and below the printing plane, with the ribbon locatedoutwardly beyond the .paper relative to the type of the type wheels. Itis understood that the shaft I88 is continued through to the oppositeend of the machine and provided with a gear 2|5 forming an integral partof a drive unit 2l6 similar to unit I84. These drive units include cams2I'l having triple identical cam surfaces 2! which cooperate with andactuate rollers 219 serving to move slide members 220 mounted inguideways in the ends of the casing, which slide members carry aprinting bar 22| which, through the medium of the cam and a .spring 222,is reciprocated in the printing line to force the paper and ribbonagainst the type on the type wheels which are in that printing line. Thesprings 222 operate to hold the printing bar away from printing positionand such bar is forced to printing position at successive intervals bythe cam surfaces 2l8 of the cams 211.

As the present recorder is designed to print three identical bills, itis obvious that the delivery rollers must rotate at three independentperiods in order to deliver three successive bills after the printingoperation thereon. To secure this result, the respective drive units areprovided with intermittent gears 223. Meshing and locking in correctsequence with the intermittent gears 223 and fixed with relation to thesaid gears are two gears 224 which mesh with compound gears 225, withthe larger gear thereof meshing with a gear 228 on the shaft to feedroller 204. Thus one revolution of the drive units will rotate thedelivery rolls to dispense a bill, with an intermediate period betweendelivery action allowed for printing, determined by the synchronizationand relation of the cooperating elements. It is to be noted, however,that all of the printing operations for the three bills and the deliveryof thethree bills is carried out during one revolution of the driveunits.

The transfer wheels 32 are mounted for free movement on the shaft 33,and this shaft is mounted in bosses 22'! carried by slide members 228sliding in guide projections 229 mounted in partitions 2 and 6. Theslides 228 have cam openings 220. within which projections 23l carriedby the drive units rotate. The cam openings are so shaped and timed thatwhen the drive units revolve, the projections 23l will move the slidemembers 228 down, thus carrying shafts 33 and with them the transfergears or wheels 32 out of mesh with the gears of the type wheels andinto cooperation with the locking strip 4|.

This action is timed to take place while the third bill is being printedand the transfer gears are fully out of mesh with the type wheels assoon as the third bill has been printed.

Following the freeing of the tabulating wheels from the transfer wheels,it is necessary to reset the type wheels to zero position, or in otherwords clear the machine. In carrying out this operation, the drive unitincludes a mutilated gear 232 meshing at the proper time through a gear233 with a gear 233' fixed in a. shaft 234 suspended in bearings inpartition 6. On the shaft 234 on the opposite side of partition 6 is agear 235 meshing with a gear 236 fixed on shaft II. To prevent gear 233from moving due to vibration when not in mesh with the mutilated gear232, a locking disk 231 integral with the drive unit fits a concavity238 in a disk 239 integral with gear 233. By this means the teeth ofgear 233 are held in position for correct operation when the actuatingperiod arrives, and the gear ratio in this detail is such that the geardirectly driving shaft I I causes that shaft to make but a singlerevolution. I

Secured to each of the type wheels is a spring strip 240, and the shaftII is cut away to provide an abrupt shoulder 24!, the free end of thespring strip 240 riding over this shoulder in the normal operation ofthe type wheels for computing purposes. As the shaft II is not rotatedby the type wheels but is only rotated in the proper direction in theresetting of these wheels, it is apparent'that if so rotated, theshoulders 24l will engage the ends of the spring strips 240 in eachwheel as such spring is reached, and as the shaft makes only onerotation, it is quite apparent that all spring strips 240 will beengaged and carried to a definite position, which is the zero positionof the type wheel.

After the tabulating wheels have been set by the actuation of thedispensing unit, the spring strips 240 of the respective wheels will bein different positions, but the shaft II when making one revolution willengage 5.11 of these springs and will carry all of the springs to thesame relative position, and as these springs are arranged with definiteregard to the zero type on the type wheels, this definite position ofthe springs following the complete revolution of the shaft II will besuch as to arrange the zeros on the respective tabulating wheels in zeroposition. Thus the machine is cleared. Immediately the shaft ll ceasesto rotate, the transfer pinions are returned to normal position, thuslooking all tabulating wheels in the cleared or zero position.

It will be remembered that the clutches controlling the transfer of thefractional rate are restored to normal position before the type wheelsare cleared. Under these circumstances, there would be a transfer ofmovement from the initial type wheel being cleared to the drum I44 andhence a tendency to wind this drum to tension the spring, which mightinterfere with subsequent proper fractional determination. To overcomethis, gear "52 is provided with the unit 242 having on its insidediameter a plurality of fine teeth 243. A disk,244 is mounted upon aboss carried by the clutch element, this disk carrying a latch 245 heldin mesh with the teeth 243 by a spring 246. Thus, when the type wheelsare returned to zero, the latch 245 rides freely over the teeth 243 andthere is no corresponding movement of the clutch elements.

The recorder provides for arranging the machine to indicate whether theparticular amount noted on the bills is paid in cash or to be charged toan account. To secure this result, a lever 24'! is fulcrumed onpartition 5, one end of which projects through an bpening in the bottomof the casing provided with a finger piece 248 on which is markedAccount" or an abbreviation of such. The opposite end of'the lever isconnected to a slide member 249 sliding in ways 250 on partition 5 andbearing on its face two lines of type 25I and 252. The first of these ismarked to print Account and the second of these is marked to print Cash.In the normal position of the lever, the cash type is in the line ofprinting, the lever being operated to move the account type in the lineof printing if the amount indi-.

cated on the bill is to be charged to an account.

Swinging on the lever 241 is a latch 253 so formed as to engage with aprojection 254 under the influence of a spring 255 when the lever 241 Iis moved to bring the account type 25I in the printing line. The latch253 is also, when engaged with the projection 254, in the path ofmovement of the cam 255 mounted on shaft I88. A spring 256 operates tonormally move lever 24! to a position to hold the cash line of type inthe printing position when the latch 253 is free of the projection 254.

Thus, when it is desired to print Account" on a'particular set of bills,the lever is pressed and moved to a position to hold the account line oftype in the line of printing, under which circumstances the latch 253will engage in the notch 254. After the bill has been printed and in thefinal operation of the shaft I'll, the cam 255 engages the latch andmoves it from beneath the projection 254, permitting the spring 256 toreturn the lever 24'! to normal position, i. e. with the cash line oftype in the printing line.

From the construction described, it will be apparent that the recordermay be set for any cost price within its limits, whether this cost pricebe a whole number or a whole number and a fraction per unit measure ofthe commodity being dispensed. After the machine is set in accordancewith the cost price, the operation of the dispensing unit or gasolinepump will move the type wheels to indicate on the totalizer an addedamount to indicate on the quantity tabulator the amount dispensed at theparticular operation and to indicate.on the cost computing mechanism thecost of the number of units dispensed at the whole number price forwhich the machine is set. If this cost per unit includes a fraction, thefractional total cost will be set upby tensioning a spring to operate adrum and this sum will immediately, following the inauguration of theautomatic mechanism. be added to the cost price on the cost computingmechanism.

After. the completion of the pumping operation, the automatic device isset in operation by the pressure of a button, and during this operationthe fractional cost price is first added to the cost computingmechanism, the type wheels are adjusted to insure thatthe proper type onsuch wheels will be in the printing line, three bills are successivelyprinted and delivered, the transfer gears are moved fromcooperation-with the type wheels, and the type wheels are reset, 1. e.the machine is cleared for the next operation.

In order that the feeding pressure on the bills may be relieved when itis necessary to refill with paper roll or ribbon, the feed roller 203 isconnected to a door 251 which also carries the guide projections for theinking ribbon. Therefore, as the door is opened, the roller 203'is movedaway from the roller 204, which not only provides ac cess to the drumsbut permits the easy replacement of the end of the new paper roll ofprinted bills inserted in the machine. The shaft of roller 204 carries acam disk 258 having a. cam depression 259 which cooperates with a roller260 on an arm projecting through an opening in the bottom of the caseand having a cut-off 2B! having a sharpened edge 262 which aligns withor substantially closes the outlet slot 201 for the paper or printedbill. The relation is such that following the delivery of the bill, andwhen a particular bill is in fully delivered position, the roller 260will cooperate with the cam depression 259 and the spring 263 will movethe cut-off across the opening 201, thus not only clamping the last billbut providing an edge on which it may be conveniently torn or separatedfrom the succeeding bills. I

Of course, it will be understood that any of the internal parts, i. e.the gears and cooperating mechanism, may be independently enclosed incasings or protective coverings in order to protect such mechanism andin order further to protect the paper or other parts against any greaseof lubrication for the parts.

I claim:---

1. A computing and registering device comprising a driving element, aunits total registering means, means between said driving element andsaid units total registering means whereby the latter is driven toregister total units, means normally disconnected from said units totalregistering means and normally operatively connected with said drivingelement to be driven thereby to absorb motion corresponding to unitfractions, said last named means being releasable to expend its absorbedmotion, and means for releasing said motion absorbing means and forsimultaneously connecting it with the units total registering means fortransfer of its absorbed motion to 'said units total registering means,thus to cause the latter means to register the total of both the unitsand the unit fractions.

2 A computing and registering device comprising a driving element, a;units total registering means driven by said driving element to registerpart of a total, sprin, means normally disconnected from said unitstotal registering means and normally connected with said driving elementfor operation by the latter to releasably absorb motion corresponding tothe remaining part of the units total and meansfor disconnecting saidspring means from said driving element and for simultaneously connectingit with said units total registering means for transfer of its absorbedmotion to said units total registering means.

3. A computing and registering device comprising a driving element, aunits total registering means, selective variable ratio gearing betweensaid driving element and said units total registering means whereby thelatter is driven to register total units, a motion absorbing devicenormally disconnected from said units total registering means, selectivevariable ratio gearing between said driving element and said motionabsorbing device whereby the latter is driven and absorbs motioncorresponding to unit fractions, said motion absorbing device beingnormally releasable to expend its absorbed motion, and means forreleasing said motion absorbing device and for simultaneously connectingit'with the units total registering means for transfer of its absorbedmotion to said units total registering means.

4. A computing and registering device comprising a driving element, 8.units total registering means, a driving connection between said drivingelement and said units total registering means, a device normallydisconnected from said-units total registering means and driven by saiddriving element simultaneously with said units total

